Eminem headed for sixth No. 1 album

The rapper’s latest release, “Recovery,” could sell more than 600,000 copies by Sunday for the biggest sales week of the year, industry sources estimate. It could even surpass the 608,000-unit haul of his last set, 2009’s “Relapse.”

“Recovery” is on track to be Eminem’s sixth straight No. 1 debut — and sixth overall No. 1. His only album to miss the top spot was his “Slim Shady LP” debut, which bowed and peaked at No. 2 in 1999.

Next week’s chart competes with the same week in 2009 when the newly deceased Michael Jackson claimed the top three albums in the U.S. with “Number Ones” (108,000), “The Essential Michael Jackson” (102,000) and “Thriller” (101,000).